Polymerization mechanisms in plasma polyallylamine

Abstract

This is a study about the polymerization mechanisms of plasma polyallylamine (PAl). This polymer is studied in the reconnection of the communications in the spinal cord after a severe lesion and it has been recognized that the iodine doping increases the reconnecting effect in laboratory rats; however, there are no chemical studies about the effect of iodine doping in the polymerization mechanisms, so analyses of undoped and iodine-doped PAl chemical structures by XPS were carried out in this work to know the plasma polymerization mechanisms. The results indicated that six different carbon chemical states were formed during the polymerization of allylamine with percentages that depend on the power of synthesis. The most active point in the chemical reactions was identified in the CH2=C segment of allylamine molecule, which disappeared in the polymers to form single, double, and triple bond structures. PAl without iodine doping has a structure with preference for single bonds (up to 62 %) and doped PAl had a preference for double-bond structures (up to 54 %) in the power of synthesis studied. The participation of triple bonds segments reached up to 4 % in PAl and up to 7 % in iodine-doped PAl. In general terms, the dopant had a catalyst role in the polymerization increasing the dehydrogenation and almost disappearing in the final polymers.